Glenmuckloch mine reclamation plan announced

Plans to restore land at a former open cast coal mine in Glenmuckloch, Dunfries & Galloway, have been announced by Hargreaves Mining Services, the Duke of Buccleugh, Dumfries and Galloway Council, the Scottish government and the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust.

The consortium will undertake significant landscaping work to transform the industrial landscape into a renewable energy park, centred on a new lake and carbon capture station.

Prof Russel Griggs, who chairs the SMRT, added: "This project to restore the Glenmuckloch open cast mining site represents a positive step forward for the local community and the coal industry in Scotland.

"We believe this project has the potential to set the benchmark for future restoration projects and will demonstrate what can be achieved when community groups, landowners, the private sector and government work together to deliver successful restoration."